Underreamer



1,454,843 H. E. BROWN l May-15, 192- UNDERREAMER Filed June a; 1921 2 sheets-she 1 May 15, 1923;

' H. E. BROWN UNDERREAMER' "Filed June-8, 1921 ZSheets-Sheet 'ntented latte 25;, W23,

, untrege HARRY E. BROWN, 0? GRENOLA, KANSAS,

assumes no news nacnnsn commits,

insane 0i GRE'NOLA, mans.

unnnnnnanna. Q i p Application filed J'une 8, 1921. erial K0. 476,010. I

Toallwlwmitmag c'oncem:

"Be it known that I, HARRY E. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grenola, in the county of Elk and State of 6 Kansas, have invented a new and useful Underreamer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to'under-reainers for use in the drilling of wells, one of the objects of the invention being to provide an under-reamer'utilizing cutters which cannot become detached from the tool whilein use but which, in the event of breakage, will fall into a hood or extension provided on the body of the tool so that the broken part or parts can thus be lifted readily out of the well without necessitating an expensive and ofttimes ruinous fishing operation.

Anotherobject is to provide an under,-

reamer the various parts of which are locked together securely so that there is no danger v of separation during the drilling operation. -A still further object is to provide the cutters with an abutment for receiving the thrusts therefrom during the cutting operation this abutment being in the form or a core which is reversible so as to present onworn surfaces to the cutters after a portion of the core has become worn as the result of use.

A still further object is to provide a draw head of novel construction for holding the cutters in active positions, this draw head being shiftable by means of a suitable key forthe purpose of releasing the cutters'so as so allow' the cutters to be removed for.

sharpening or replacement.

Another ob'ect is to provide the underreamer with supplemental means for hold-v ing the cutters in proper relation to the body of the too] should any of the working parts of said tool become broken.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in f vi'e'wwhich wil'l'appear as they description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de'- scribed. andclaimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without (le parting from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawinfis the preferred form of the invention has een shown.

In said drawings- Figure 1 is a view partly insect'ion and partly in elevation of the unde'r-reamer, the key used for loosening the cutters b'eing shown in position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line 2- '2,, Fi ure" 1. I

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line.

reference 1 designates thcbody of the under-reamer, the same being provided'at its lower end with spaced parallel hridles 2 which connect the body to an end cage or sleeve In this cage or sleeve is seated a tubular plug, 4. held in place by a tangential pin 5 winch can be secured by a cotter 5 or the like, asshown in Figure 2. Longitudinal passages 6 are formed betweeii this plug and the sleeve and a ccntralbore 7 ,is provided in the plug for the reception of a tube 8 constituting; a protecting sleeve or a jacket for a key in the form of a rod .9, This rod has an eye 10 at its lower or outer end while its inner end is screwv threaded ,as

shown at 11 for the purposehereinafter set fort-h.

Each of the bridles has its side walls substantially parallel as shown in Figure 3 and formed along the upper portion of each side of each bridle is aretaining rib 12 the lower end of which terminates above the top of the cage or sleeve These ribs are slidably engaged by lateral projections 13 on the sides of cutters 14, the said cutters being slidable longitudinally between the bridles and, when moveddownwardly sufficient distances toward the, sleeve ore-ca es, being adapted tobecome disengaged fio'infithg; ribs 12. The lower portions of the cutters are in the form of blades 15 offset" outwardly as shown and the upper'portion ofeach of the cutters has its outer surface inclined upwardly and inwardly as shown at 16.

essence ed between the hridles, cooperating means upon the cutters and the upper portions of the bridles for limiting the outward mavement of the cutters relative to the bridles, a core within the body and extending between the cutters for limiting their inward movement, and yieldingly supported means for holding the cutters )etween the upper portions of the bridles andin contact with the core. 1 t

3. In an under-reamer the combination with a body, and bridles extending from the body, of cutters tiltabl y and slidably mounted between the bridles, cooperating means upon the cutters and the upper portions of the bridlcs for limiting the outwardmovement of the cutters relative to the bridles, a core projecting between the cutters when in their normal positions, a yieldingly supported draw head betweenthe bridles for holding the cutters in normal position, and means upon the bridles and cooperating with the draw head for'engaging and holding the draw head out of cutter supporting position. p r v 4. In an under-reumer the combination with a body, and bridles extending from the body, of a core extending between the bridles and terminating, above the sleeve, cut-- ters tiltably and slidably mounted between the bridles, cooperating means upon the cutters and the upper portions of the bridles for limiting the outward radial movement of thecutters, said coreconstituting an abutment for limiting the inward radial movement of the cutters, and a yieldingly supported draw head for supporting the cuttersin engagement with the core and the upper portions of the bridles.

5.111 an under-reamer the combination with a body, and bridles extending from the body, of a core extending between the bridles and terminating'above the sleeve, cutters tiltably and slfdably mounted between the bridles, cooperating means upon the cutters and the upper portions of the bridles for limiting th outward radial movement of the cutters, said core ooi'istitutinc, an abutment for limiting the inward radial, move ment of the cutters, and a yieldingly supported draw head for supportingthe cuttel-s in engagement with the core and the 6. In an under-reamer the combiriittion with n, body, and bridles extending from the body, of guide ribs upon the upper portions of the bridles, cuttersslidable and-tiitable between the bridles, means thereon ahd cooperating witlijthe ribs-for limiting theloutward radial movement of the cutters, and, e reversible core detachably seated within the body and projecting; between the cutters,

said core constitutingan abutment -vfordimiting the inward railialunovement 'f; the cutters.

7. In an under-reamer' the combinationwith a body, and bridles connectedlto thebody, of cutters tiltablyyand slidably nilounted between the bridles, ,cooper atin gimeuns upon the cutters and bridles for limiting the outward radial movement of the; cutters, and a reversible core detachably mounted'in the body and projecting between theflcutters, said core constituting an abutmentfor limiting the inward redial movement of, the

cutters. i p 8. In an under-reamer a body, bridles exv tending therefrom, a tubularcore re l-tin and 'detachably mounted in the body tiltably and slidably mounted betwee bridles and limited in their inwardniov e-fl ment by the core, cooperating me'a upon the cutters and bridles forli mitingithje outward radial movement of the cutters, "l bar slidnbly mounted within the core, 'a"dr: 1v head movable therewith andj engaging the,

cutters, said, drnwfheud'being; di'sp ed be- I low the end of the core,- andyieldin nieans within the core 'andhody for slip citing the draw bar and the draw head'tomaim' tain the cutters normally upon the core and between the upper portions of the bridles.

9. In an under-reamer a body, bridles ex tending therefrom cutters removabl mounted between the bridles and tiltab e and slidahle relative thereto, means for limiting the outward radial movement of the a ing between the cutters for limiting their cutters, a core withinthe body and projectinward movement, a draw bar s'lidable within the core,a draw head connected thereto and normally engaging and supportingt'he cutters between the bridles, a nut slidable within the body and adjustably engaged by the draw bar, and a spring engaging the nut and core for yieldingly supporting the draw bar and draw head and the cutters engaged by the draw head. v v

T0. In an under-reamer a body having a tubular portion, cutters movably mountedin the body, and'a relatively hard core within the body and extending between and constituting an abutment for the cutters.

11. In an, under-reamer a body, cutters movably mounted in the bod and c rcletiveiy hard core within the ho y and extend ing between and constituting an abutment, for the cutters.

s V i, isisooo and exi/enoing between and constituting an obutniono for tho suitors.

. 13: Ini o under-roams? a body, cutters movably mounted therein, and a, relatively hard core nomovably and reversibly mounted in the body and extending beiweon and mm o M. In on imdor roomer o, body having a stituaing on abutment for the suitors.

I tubular portion, a draw bar slidablo Within said portion, yielding means within the said bod for normally supporting the bar in one position, and oo-opemting means upon the draw bar and Within. the body for holding the baragoinst rototion in the body While in said normal ition.

15. In an on owl-earner a body, a draw bar slidable Within the body, a spring in the body for normally supporting tho draw bar in one position, cooperating moans upon the draw bar and. in the body for holding" the body and draw bar againsi 'olotivo rotaiion while the bar is in said normal position,

a not upon the bar for adjustin the tension of the spring, and means in tiobody for holding the not against rotation, said not being sliclable with the bar.

16. .In an under-seamen a body, cutters movably connected thereto, and means iii/the lower end of the body for receiving and em gaging the cutters or portions of the-outioi's when sop aroted from the body while in use,

riocl by the lower end of the body. for catch v ing broken cutters while in 118%.

18. In on under-rooms! a body, cutters removobly connected thereto, a spring controlled draw-bar in the liocly, a head upon the draw-bar normally clamping against the suitors to hold them in octivo positions, means for shifiing the draw-bar and haul againsttlio action of the spring to nelosse the suitors, and means engaged by the hood of the draw-loos when rotated While in releasin, position, for holding said head and drowor against return to normal positions.

19. In an undenreomer a body, a clrswbar sliclable in the bocly, an elongated ongu- 1&1 nut thereon, means in the body and Sliililbly engaged by the not for holding the not against rotation-a. spring engaging the not for holding the boy. yielding'ly in normal posiiion, cooperating means on the box and rotation, and moons for shifting the bar longitudinally out of engagement with saii holding means to rotate the bar-rolativeto 'iho nut and vary the tension of the spring.

body for holding the bar normally against 

